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Saturday, August 30, 2014

........our prompt for today, beggar, which is based on the following 'verse' by Khalil:

[...] "We are all beggars at the gate of the temple, and each one of us receives his share of the bounty of the King when he enters the temple, and when he goes out. But we are all jealous of one another, which is another way of belittling the King". [...]

While mediating on the above inspirations I thought of the story of Ruth and Naomi. Ruth gleaned in the fields of Boaz, a relative. Later he would become her husband. As I read about the history of and types of food left for gleaners the articles moved to the current day activities. One of the suggested readings was dumpster diving, not exactly my idea of the meaning of commands to leave portions of crops for gleaners. Somewhere in all of the chatter about welfare states it seems the dignity of the human is lost.....But we are all jealous of one another, which is another way of belittling the King". [...] (Khalil)

"we are on a journey into ourselves ... on the route to our Inner Self and that's were Khalil's 'verse' is about.
[...] "A traveler am I and a navigator, and every day I discover a new region within my soul". [...]"

Monday, August 25, 2014

In 2000 one of my three year old great nephews had quite the night before Christmas. Garrett was full of anticipation of the big man in the red suit. His dreams had been so vivid he was certain all events had really happened. He recounted the adventure to my sister, his Granny.

"Granny, I was asweep but a woud sound woke me up. I wooked out the window and sunnunly thar(soft r) was a weindeer. Then sunnunly thar(soft r) was a noise in the chimwey and I wan to the wiving woom and thar(soft r) was Santa! And sunnunly he gave me pwesents. And, and, and ..... sunnunly he.....", continued the excited three year old as he remembered and added to the story.

The story continued for some time as my sister later recounted it to me. That young man and his twin brother are now beginning their senior year in high school. "Sunnunly" has replaced suddenly in the Rogers vernacular.

Carpe Diem Haiku Kai is taking the participants on a three day Vision Quest. Chèvrefeuille is giving a haiku a day for inspiration. We are to write our vision inspired by each of the haiku as well as one of our own haiku. So, here goes!

Here is our first haiku/senryu for the first day of this first Vision Quest:

The vision that came to mind was me as a child crawling out a second story window onto the backporch roof top. I lay there in the summer night. No moonlight to show the path to the privy. No shadows in that darkness. Only the stars of the wide Texas sky. A child dreamer wondering where will life lead and who will help her get there.

This new writing adventure is being great fun for me. I am enjoying the concise manner of this type of poetry. To be able to express emotions, senses, observations and new insights condensed into 17 syllables is delightfully challenging. Learning the mechanics of a proper haiku is certainly stretching my mind while enriching my soul. This seems to be giving a new focus in this final third of life.

[...] "When Soshi was about to die, his disciples wished to bury him in a grand style, but Soshi said, "My coffin will be Heaven and Earth; for the funeral ornaments of jade, there are the sun and moon; for my pearls and jewels I shall have the stars and constellations; all things will be my mourners. Is not everything ready for my burial? What should be added to this?" [...]

She lay in the hospital bed after months of confused silence interrupted only briefly by clarity. Her silent prayers were to once again be with her husband. While being moved from hospital room to a hospice room on a different floor, her pray was answered. On the same floor as her beloved husband had crossed the bar years before she made the same journey into his waiting arms. We felt such joyful sadness for her.

In the late summer of 2006 our garden was home for black and tiger swallowtail butterflies and their offspring. Three of the larvae / caterpillar were placed in a clear box with springs of rue, aka herb of grace. A vented cover allowed the larvae to thrive. What an experience for two retired folks to have as we watched the changes. The caterpillars had just began to morph to the pupa stage as we left for a trip to Texas. The box sat in a secure location in the back seat of the auto. Within a few days the three were in various stages of transitions. By the end of a week butterflies were emerging. Wings were heavy with dampness. Proboscis were rolled in and out numerous times. The butterflies tried out all parts then began test flights around my Mom's living room. As each would find its way to the door, we would open the door. Away they each flew to live and continue the cycle again.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Khalil Gibran says in his "Sand and Foam" the following about tolerance:

[...] " Tolerance is love sick with the sickness of haughtiness". [...]

the toe is stepped on

were eyes unable to see

cat fight on isle nine

As with host Kristjaan Panneman I think there are times when certain behavior is not to be tolerated. Bullies seem to be attempting to run our world at times. Whether it is the child on the school yard, the dictator of a person's nation, kidnappers or terrorists they appear to me to be bullies, one and all. Does tolerance of the unacceptable behavior just encourage more of the same? Very possibly. Yes, there are times we need to stand up to the bullies but it must be in a way that will curtail the bulling. Not just fan the flames of hatred. Now, pardon me while I step down off my soapbox. Help me watch for your toes.

Mymorning walk is exciting because we are surrounded by businesses. I wait at intersections for the autos holding anxious workers rushing toward life. The intersections of three of the city's main highways are within a 3 blocks of our apartment. The top picture was taken from our bedroom window. We know it is 5 in the evening when the traffic backs up on the street outside our door. All the pavement, buildings and a drought make for very warm walks even at 7 AM. Fortunately there is a small park and a couple of small ponds to give some life to this paved part of the world.

For a point of reference part of the overlook from our home includes The Old Chisholm trail. This trail was used to drive cattle from Texas ranches to Kansas cattle markets. Names such as Hester's Crossing, May's Crossing and Chisholm Trail mark streets that now just drive people to market instead of cattle. But really not so much difference.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

This weeks prompt on The Spin Cycle is 'Happiness'. What makes a person happy? There is so much in my life in which I am experiencing joy and happiness. Most of these will not be a surprise to those who know me. For the sake of brevity as I am now participating in too many blogs here is a list!

Grandsons. Just about anything and everything is bring smiles.

Making a cake with the Oldest,

Conversations with Youngestl

Middle just being Middle!

Son just dropping in for a visit.

Hubby riding his bike makes him happy and I like a happy Hubby.

Morning walks

Learning how to write haiku and other forms of Japanese poems and poetry.

Playing with my new camera

Driving my hybrid

Having a swimming pool nearby.

Having a swimsuit that fits

Having drinks in cans to take to the pool

Living across the street from World Market

Seeing my family on a regular basis.

Participation in all sorts of photo and writing blogs

Having someone to come in to change light bulbs and air filters.

Eating watermelon.

Scratching where it itches.

A knee that works

A good sewing machine

Birds

Smiles

Phone calls from my 96 year old mom to check on me.

Sisters

Friends from a lifetime

Family

nieces

nephews

cousins

I am so happy from just writing about all the happiness in my life I thing I'll go celebrate by eating a banana with some ice cream and chocolate syrup. My cup is so full it is time to reach out to help someone. I find happiness in that, too. And contentment. And a feeling that life is really about the joy from giving instead of taking all the time.

So find out what the others over at The Spin Cycle brings happiness. And if you have something to say about happiness join in on the fun!

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

When I think of tapestry as a seamstress I think of the feel of the finished piece. Some tapestry is heavy some is light. Both dependent on the yarn/thread weight. That weight influences the texture whether smooth like silk or a rough, almost burlap texture. I suppose our individual tapestries of life are akin to this. Experience has shown that the changes in life cause variations in materials available to weave into the tapestry. Broken threads, discontinued colors, the shuttle snags some of the threads. The damage caused lies unseen. Too far along to correct the problem. Even if it becomes a wart on your nose. Acceptance, adjustment, determination to move on allows continued work on the elegant fabric of one's life.

There is so much in life to learn So much to do. So much to enjoy to enrich one's mind. My son calls me a hermit because I do not wish to make a ton of new friends since our move. It will come, the time to again reach out and share in the physical world. Until that time I am very content to expand my mind, my essence, my understanding. Then when the time arrives I shall have more to offer in my extended hand. For now I am content in my shell touching the world with a keyboard, 1 0 1 0 1 0.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

This painting was presented as an example of using art for inspiration. Using the image as a springboard I dove into the inspiration from art. These poems are what came to mind as I reflected on some of my own photos as well at the above painting.

Monday, August 18, 2014

A Japanese short form of poetry is known as haiku. I did not know about poetry that did not rhyme till I started this blogging thing. I knew iambic pentameter. I did not pay close enough attention in Literature classes though Mrs. Hull did her best. Anywho, there are several haiku sites I have come across while surfing the meme world. Carpe Diem Haiku Kai is the latest discovery.

The original Japanese form had a specific structure of 17 syllables within 3 lines. You wanna know more click here to read for yourself. Like I said, I don't know about this stuff enough to teach anyone. The gentleman that wrote the haiku at the top of this post has what is called his own style. I think that means he does poetry as he wishes. I am beginning to think that maybe what makes poetry, prose all literature good. doing something that satisfies one's self. With that in mind here is my contribution that does not follow the rules exactly.

Friday, August 15, 2014

The Spin Cycle is back after a brief vacation. Summer vacation is the theme for this week's blog. No official vacation for us this year so I will just submit this little ditty.

Apartment living is still really quite new

This new setup leaves us with little to do.

No yard work nor maintenance except for our cars.

We have time for movies, plays and staring at stars.

We provide shuttle service for grandsons as needed .

Beats the heck out of yards that need weeded.

Just a short walk to the pool with a drink in hand

It is the perfect vacation that we never planned.

If you want to read about some more exciting vacation doings head on over to The Spin Cycle hosted by Ginny and Gretchen. Thanks, ladies for your weekly prompts for writing and to the kind folks that visit to read our blogs.